Millions Flood Streets Nationwide in ‘No Kings’ Protests Against Trump
On June 14, 2025, millions of Americans took to the streets in coast-to-coast “No Kings” protests opposing President Donald Trump and what organizers call his increasingly authoritarian rule. The mass mobilization occurred the same day as a lavish military parade in Washington, DC, held in honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and Trump’s 79th birthday.
Protests Erupt in Cities and Small Towns Alike
From New York to Los Angeles, and from Austin to Salt Lake City, protests were held in all 50 states, according to the No Kings Coalition. Organizers reported more than 2,000 individual events and claimed participation in the millions.
Major rallies included:
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Seattle: Estimated 70,000 marched downtown
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Atlanta: 5,000-capacity venue overflowed
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Denver: Thousands carried banners like “Colorado Stands”
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Los Angeles: Protesters clashed with police and federal agents
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Portland: Tear gas and rubber bullets used to clear ICE protests
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Austin: State Capitol rally held despite credible threats
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Salt Lake City: One critically injured in a shooting during a march
✊ Key Protest Themes: Anti-Authoritarianism, Immigration, Democracy
Chants like “No Kings. No Crowns. We Will Not Bow Down.” echoed across city centers. Demonstrators decried Trump’s handling of:
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Federal immigration raids
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Executive overreach
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Suppression of dissent and free speech
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Militarization of public spaces
Marchers carried signs reading “Deport the Mini-Mussolinis”, “Fight Oligarchy”, and “We Carry Dreams, Not Danger”. Some demonstrators wore tinfoil crowns, while others waved U.S. flags upside down — a symbol of national distress.
️ Trump’s Military Parade Draws Fire Amid Protests
While Trump delivered a speech during the $45 million military parade in Washington, protesters a few blocks away chanted “Trump must go now.” A float resembling the president sitting on a golden toilet wearing a crown was wheeled through the streets of DC’s Logan Circle.
Trump responded earlier in the week, warning protesters would be met with “very big force.” National Guard troops and U.S. Marines in combat gear were stationed at multiple federal sites across cities like Los Angeles and Portland.
Scattered Violence Amid Largely Peaceful Demonstrations
While most events remained peaceful, several cities experienced clashes and isolated violence:
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Salt Lake City, UT: A man was critically injured in a shooting; police say it’s unclear whether it was politically motivated.
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Culpepper, VA: A man intentionally drove an SUV into the crowd, injuring one.
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Portland, OR: ICE agents fired tear gas and flash bangs to clear protesters.
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Los Angeles, CA: Police on horseback struck demonstrators after protests ended.
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Austin, TX: Police shut down the Capitol grounds over threats to lawmakers.
In Jackson, MS, hundreds gathered on the Capitol lawn as Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” blared. In Charlotte, NC, protesters marched for blocks under giant Mexican flags.
️ Protesters Speak Out: “We Don’t Do Kings”
“We are losing the thread of democracy in our country,” said Melissa Johnson, who drove 90 minutes to attend the Jackson rally.
“I voted for Trump, and now I regret it,” said Peter Varadi, holding a combined U.S.-Mexican flag. “It’s Latinos now. Who’s next?”
“I am what the successful American dream looks like,” said Bolivian immigrant and community leader C.C. Téllez in LA.
Even after formal rallies ended, spontaneous celebrations and activism continued into the night, with drum circles, salsa dancing, and hot dog vendors lining the streets. But by dusk in several cities, riot police had moved in.
⚖️ A Political Crossroads for the Nation
As protests stretched into the night, one phrase summed up the day’s message:
“No kings. No crowns. We will not bow down.”
The No Kings Day protests reflect an escalating resistance movement in the United States. The political divide has rarely been starker, with some viewing Trump’s parade as patriotic pride, and others as a symbol of creeping autocracy.
